Are you a Greyhound, Whippet or Lurcher owner? Come and have a seat on the new Pointy Hounds cushion!

[TheCunnyFunt]

Pointy hounds include-
Greyhounds (Grunds)
Whippets (Whippys)
Lurchers
Italian Greyhounds (Iggys)
Salukis
Afghans
And any others I have forgotten. If you are a new pointy hound owner, an old and experienced owner or looking into getting one of these fabulous creatures, come and have a seat (that's not taken up with a hound).

Share advice, stories and shopping tips!
AK Creations
Bonnie dogs
GRWE shop
Our very own Scuttle's Milgi coats
Silver Peacock

Jake
I didn?t really want you,
I wasn?t really sure,
And I?ll admit I had my doubts,
When you first came through that door.

Not small, or cute, or fluffy,
With big, soft puppy eyes,
But tall, and thin, and bony,
With bald, pink, bulging thighs.

You weren?t the kind I had in mind,
Not in any way,
?Perhaps it would be better if I took you back today,
Before we know each other,
It really won?t be kind,
To keep you here for one more day,
And then to change my mind.?

But against my better judgement, I decided you could stay,
And quickly I discovered you were kind in every way,
Your gentleness and patience, they really stole the show,
?Why these dogs are wonderful, I must let others know!?

For you?re my gentle giant,
Who just needed the chance,
To show us all what you could be,
To wipe away that history,
And dispel our preconceptions, which put us all to shame,
And so we come to know and love,
What lies beneath that frame.

And now I?ve come to understand,
What I missed right at the start,
That greyhounds need that great deep chest,
To house their great big hearts!
By Denise Dubarbier
:)

We've been out to a display (had bought tickets long ago as its at the rugby stadium), and Jake had taken himself off to the bathroom, but seems quite happy otherwise. For some reason he seems to like it in there, though this may have something to do with the hot pipes which run under the tiled floor.
Our little town doesn't have a fireworks display - there may be long held reasons for this, but I don't know - so nothing very close going off.

Lots of bangs here - and ours would not be happy - but we've worn her out so much today (she's not used to going for such long walks I think) that she's completely comatose.

Fingers crossed it's not too bad tonight! Good luck everyone!

Well it was rather scary around yesterday evening I understand (I was out singing) and there was another puddle because it was just to frightening to be able to think of anything apart from the bangs when in the garden :(. However, that was the only accident of the weekend. This evening we'll have to feed her early and take her out early and then keep her in until the bangs have stopped. DH stupidly didn't have any distractions on in the house when I got in apart from the radio in the kitchen when the dog was in the sitting room - I have suggested loud film or music this evening.

We managed to leave her for 20 mins in a car too - came back to a very alert dog, but still where she had been put, and not completely frantic, and car intact. The dog gate is definitely useful.

I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing

I have a Staffy who seems to be more of a 'Whiffie' (thanks to Scuttlebutter for giving a cute name to a StaffyxWhippet).

When he was a puppy, I used to have to put him inside my coat when we left the house, because he got so incredibly cold. The vet said that he shouldn't get that cold, and he'd be fine, but actually he'd shake from head to toe.

He hates cold weather and shakes as soon as we leave the house when it's cold or windy.

If he is part Whippet, could it be that he needs to wear a coat in the colder weather?

If he isn't part Whippet, or rather the part of him that is part Whippet isn't causing him to be cold, and is in fact Staffy, will it do him harm to wear a coat?

Confused? I am

You are most welcome Lougle :)
It's fine for him to wear a coat if he's cold! No matter what breed he is. If you were cold you'd put on a coat wouldn't you? It's the same for dogs really. Feel the inside of their ears, that's usually a good indicator of telling whether they are cold or not, if they feel cold on the inside then your dog probably will be too. Tbh, he sounds part whippy if he's weather phobic :o
And I love Whiffie :o we have a Grippet on the thread too (greyhound x whippet)

He's gorgeous, just had a peek at your pics, I love the one of him sitting with his head up and his ears sticking up, he looks like he's enjoying a breeze :o

Having been comatose on the sofa all yesterday evening, then had to be retreived from upstairs to go down the garden last thing at night, ours decided that bedtime was actually the ideal time to have a game. Preferably with something of DH's. Even if it meant unpacking some recent purchases as the unpacked one had already been put out of her reach . I ended up going and getting her a couple of her toys, one of which she happily killed very noisily for a few minutes before finally settling down. It was an accident-free day on the upside!

Dog gates can, apparently, just be popped over.... We got the extra tall version too.

Hi Lougle, welcome to Pointy World! Mr. Whiffie definitely qualifies.

The Norty Minx has taken all the cushions off the sofa and gone upstairs with them, where she has created a little den for herself. She looks like something from the Arabian Nights reclining on her pile of cushions - very happy.

Thank you

mistlethrush can I just congratulate you for having a dog gate left? Patch decided that they were over rated. We had a Protect Pressure Fit Extra Tall Pet Gate. Note carefully the 'had'. Patch realised that if he pulled at a strut with his teeth, he could pull the strut from it's housing. Then, he simply pushed the strut forwards until it broke the weld As he is remarkably lean, he only needed on strut to be removed - he'd made himself his very own dog flap.

Scuttle is Norty Minx back up to her tricks again? :o at the cushions!

Lougle I'm and :o at Patch! Clever dog.

This isn't just me is it? It does look like what I think it does, doesn't it?

Yes cunny - do you think it's actually modeled on Galileo? I can't think why else he's on the packet. I also came across this today which looks more like it belongs in Ann Summers!

Anyway, just popped on to say hello as I think my little mutt qualifies, being half whippet and all

Yes, Cunny, it does look like it should be in the bedroom. We bought a black Kong type thing some years back and it was such an embarrassment - it just looked black and spiky and NORTY - never felt it should be lying around when ILs were visiting - it just had that evil sex toy vibe rather than fun, innocent dog chew thing going on.

Am liking Patch's approach to dog gates!

We don't use stair gates any more. What with the dog gate adaptation, followed by the sheer annihilation of the lindham alarm stair gate (he simply gripped the handle in his teeth and yanked it do that the entire gate was pulled through ) we felt he's made his feelings clear

Talking of toys, any ideas of non-phallic, yet interesting, toys?

Hi folks!

I'd like to say 'Hi' and seek your sage advice if I may. Apologies for the length of this, but want to get things right...

We're hoping to adopt a rescue dog in the near future and have our eyes on a beautiful rescue Podenco who is about 10 months old at the moment. We're at the stage where we need to determine if he's cat safe (we have three) and then arrange a home check. If we aren't the right home for him, we'll probably wait for a Pod that fancies our home set-up as we love the breed. I hope a Podenco is pointy enough for this Pointy Hound Cushion?

Anyway, what I'm wondering is what I might need to consider that I haven't already?

We have a 5.5 month old son and have confirmed said hound is good with children (not that they would be left alone together of course).

I'm on maternity leave at the moment and then from January both myself and DH will be working part-time so plenty of opportunity for training & walking. I'm thinking clicker training will be our starting point (have tried it with a deaf cat and a torch instead of a clicker...didn't get very far...still, I'm hoping a hearing dog might be easier!) He knows basic commands (in Spanish, so may need a phrase book ).

Said hound may not be allowed off lead due to the iffy nature of his recall - we can work on this but appreciate he may not get off the lead for some time, if ever. Would you recommend a long training lead to give him more freedom in the right environment? If so, what sort of harness would you suggest? There is also a secure field about an hour's drive away that can be hired by the hour, so that might be an option for some safe, off-lead antics.

Our back garden has just been re-done so has secure fences around 6' high (know Podencos can be jumpers) but I am a bit concerned as we have raised beds next to the fence that could give him a launch pad if he's an escape artist - I guess that's a judgement for whoever homechecks us. Further trellis could be nailed on if necessary I guess. Gates are being replaced / new catches fitted in the near future to ensure security.

We have a crate (a soft one, but it's large - can replace with a 'proper' one if necessary) and may crate train him or just leave it as his own personal meditation space to use as he chooses.

We have a kong toy and a boomer ball - what other toys would you suggest for the breed (he's not a great chewer apparently)?

He travels well in the car so we're debating whether a dog guard or a seat belt would be the best option for him - any recommendations on that front?

Have explored cost of vaccinations, insurance etc so okay on that front.

So..many thanks if you've made it this far - what else do I need to research / think about?

I'm early in the stakes too Cheddar - had ours as a foster for 11 days now.

Find out what types of collars fit Podencos - my lurcher can nearly get out of her lurcher collar even though it feels quite tight round the top of her neck. We walk her in a slip lead that has a leather stop that pushes down to keep the lead close to her neck (not strangling!) so she can't just back out of it.

Ours travels in the car in a car harness - our last dog did this and it was fine next to DS although we had 2 incidents (dog gave a warning) at which point we immediately told DS off - with a younger dog this might be more difficult.

We already had some 1/4 double duvet squares (in the cover too) that I had made from a cheap duvet from the market - ideal for moving round the house as a place for the dog to lie (and also in the car).

Seat protectors for the car (and wherever you might want to let him lie in the house)

Treat ball... Kong toy... frisbee... some tugging toys... he might not be a chewer (this one doesn't seem to be ) but he will probably still want to play.

Old towels. Lots of them - for feet and mopping up.

Carpet shampoo.

A disc with your name and telephone numbers on.

We've got a lunge rein (for a horse) to take ours out into the garden on - we're having some work done on our fences - but its also helped her discover the garden safely.

Child gates (to keep child away from dog!)

Play pen (likewise!)

BTW, my son thought my old dog's toys were the ideal thing to teeth on (and she always dropped anything she was playing with if he touched it when he was really little)

Thanks Mistle, that's great!

That's interesting re the collar - I was thinking of a martingale collar for a Podenco, but not sure if this is best; will need to investigate further! Good point re the ID tag - I've bookmarked a couple of sites so I remember to get one done.

I like the duvet square idea - funny enough, I've just discovered an old king size duvet in a blanket box I haven't been in for a while; that should do the trick nicely.

I like the idea of a harness in the car as it would allow us to put the pram in the boot, but will need to ponder it as we have a small car and the logistics to get everything in and keep everyone happy / safe need to be just right!

Seat protector and more toys are noted!

More gates are on the shopping list and we have a playpen, towels and carpet shampoo so we're getting there!

One other question I meant to ask for anyone that's got advice...

I need some ideas of good treats for training with. I've heard of bits of liver, cheese etc but what do your hounds like? Also, with stuff like cheese, how bit a bit do you use and how many bits could you use in a day before it becomes too much?

Final thing (god, sorry for all these questions!)...

Is there anything else I need to be wary of dogs eating? I know that chocolate, raisins, corn cob and household items are all to be avoided; anything else obvious I've missed?

Sorry to have hijacked this thread - would I be better posting a separate thread if I have any more questions? I don't want to be a bother!

I was walking my Whippy today and was struck at his total devotion to me. His idea of perfection is an hour out with me. William is my first pointy hound and is proving a fabulous companion :-)

How lovely!

Patch is the same. In fact if the people of the house are in two different rooms, he sits in the hallway looking all conflicted!

Don't be silly Cheddar that's what this thread is for :) ask as many questions as you need to. Re avoiding food, onions are toxic to dogs too. This may help.

Treatwise, my greyhound goes crazy for Livercake, but if you do make it, beware, it stinks!!

I think it's worth finding some more Podenco owners (maybe there's an online forum?) to see what collars they use. I don't like the idea of rope slip leads for the same reason you shouldn't use thin collars for greyhounds.

Add your address to the ID tag, so, your address and postcode, phone number and if there's room 'I'm chipped and neutered' (although obviously don't put that bit on if he isn't :o)

Some commands in Spanish ,and here :o

Good luck, oh and pics are mandatory (but obviously optional if you want to stay anonymous) :o

Hi all,

We're off to get our rescue grey from his foster home today! So I'll be back later for help from you I'm sure. (It's a good rescue and they're giving us plenty of back up as well). I'm so excited I've been up since half five.

Can I ask what you all feed? My new boy is underweight so we are going to have to get some fat on him asap.

Thanks Cunny - especially for the link to poisonous stuff and the one to commands in Spanish, that's really useful!

That livercake looks tasty...I guess! Might have to give it a try once we find our pointy companion.

The good thing about livercake is that it's freezable too, that recipe I linked to makes loads, so what I did was chop it all up into treatsize pieces then bag it up into amounts I thought I'd use in one session, then froze them. Then just grab a bag out as and when you need it, no need to defrost either!

Good luck Promise! I hope it goes well. I feed CSJ CP xtra, it's what I was recommended by the rescue, it's low protein and wheat and gluten free. W&G free stuff is best for Grunds I think as they're not very good with it, and as they're settling down into retirement they don't need high protein food anymore.

You can also add stuff too like a tin of sardines in tomato sauce a couple of times a week, it's good for them and the oil makes their coats shiny :)

Although while he's still settling in with you it's probably best to just keep feeding him what he's on now. Then just change gradually. Do you know what he's on now?

I was specifically told to use the rope slip leads by the rescue - as if you have a twisty dog on the end of the lead its much more difficult for them to get it off than even the flat collars. We've got one that has a bit that stops it over tightening too... I think the issue of the thin collar is that if you have a long lead they can get up quite a speed in a short distance then can damage their neck when they hit the end (especially if on a long lead) - however the slip leads are only short so you can't get the speed up in the same way.